Hawkeyes in two of the Big Ten’s top 10 ‘swing games’

In a year that sees the Big Ten West wide open between three or four teams, the Iowa Hawkeyes will play a large part in determining the fate of the conference as they are a contender to get back to Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship game.

With things so open and being the defending Big Ten West champs, the Hawkeyes are set to play two games that appear to be critical to their success and making or breaking other teams’ seasons. 247Sports’ Riley Gates included these two games for the Hawkeyes in his top 10 biggest swing games for the Big Ten in 2022.

The first swing game comes when they travel to play the Ohio State Buckeyes on Oct. 22. By all accounts, the Big Ten is the Buckeyes’ conference to lose. There is every possibility to run the table. As history shows rather recently, this piques the interest level as the Hawkeyes will get a shot to knockout a heavyweight.

In the Big Ten East, Ohio State is a top dog, looking to get back to the Big Ten title game. In the west, Iowa is hoping to defend its divisional title. Needless to say, this game will have a huge impact on the league race, one way or another. It can also impact the national title picture, as Iowa is more than capable of jumping up and knocking off Ohio State, possibly ending a perfect record. – Gates, 247Sports.

The second swing game comes when Iowa welcomes the Wisconsin Badgers to town on Nov. 12. These two are among the favorite to take the title in the West and make their way to Indianapolis. With the two trading blows the last few years, this one is set up for more than enough drama of postseason hopes hanging in the balance.

With how late in the year it comes, this could be a game that decides the Big Ten West. The Hawkeyes lost this game last year but then got red-hot to stay in the conference title picture. Wisconsin looked like it was in good shape for the division after the win, but a blown game against Minnesota late killed the chances. As two west contenders this year,…